Conveyor mechanism for tunnel kilns



MarchI 25, 1958 w. H. BURTONl CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR TUNNEL KILNS yl0 Shee-ts-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 50, 1953 March 25, 1958 I w. H. BURTON 2,828,004

. CoNvEYoR MECHANISM- FORTUNNEL KILNS l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 30, 1953 Attorneys March 2.5, 1958 w. H. BURTQN CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR TUNNEL KILNS 1'0 sheets-sheet 5 Filed OCT.. 30, 1953 March 25, 1958 w. H. BURTONA 2,828,004

coNvEYoR MCHANISM FOR TUNNEL KILNS Filed Oct. 50. 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Z|` `BdlbwjzIt/luentor y1 Ll .f Attorneys March 25, 1958 Filed Oct. 50, 1953 W. H. BURTON coNvEYoR MEcHAN-ISM FOR TUNNEL KILNs* I vILO Sheefs-Sheet 7 March 25, 17958 Filed Oct. 30, 1955 W. H. BURTON CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR TUNNEL KILNS 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 March 25, 1958 w. H. BRTON l' 2,828,004

CONVEYOR MECHANISM FOR TUNNEL KILNS Filed' oct. so. 1955 1o sheets-sheet 9 UTRNEYS March 25, 1958 w. H.A BURTON 2,828,004

CoNvEYoR MECHANISM FOR TUNNEL KILNs vFiled oct. 3o. 1955 1o sheets-sheet 1o ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice CONVEYOR kMECHANISM FORL TUNNEIJKILNS William e Hem-yl Braten, Pendle'bur'y, .v England', assigner t to PilkingtonsTiles Limited, ,CliftonJunctiom England, 'abody corporate ofGreat Britain' Application Octoberl), `1953, Serial No. 389,401?

3 Claims. (CL. 1.98-219) This invention rela-tes to improvements in tunnelfkilns.

In tunnelkilns it-has been propos'e'dto traverse tiles.

which the articles `may-tbe traversed step by step without?4 the employment of-carriers.y v

According to the invention a tunnel kiln is constructed with a heating chamber closed along the base by a member.` carried-on a beam givena irectaugular movement to traverse the articles through the kiln.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. l and la are a longitudinal section through a tunnel kiln,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of same,

Figs. 3 and 3a are a side elevation of the beam and the lifting and propelling mechanism therefor,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4, Fig. 3a,

Figs. 5 and 5a are a plan of same,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the lifting and propelling cams,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View of the guide rollers and adjusting means for the beam,

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7, but taken at right angles thereto.

The kiln is formed of a refractory material A such as sillimanite surrounded by other refractory material A1. The top of the furnace may be formed with four or other number of longitudinal ducts a (five being shown in the drawings) to house electrical heating units a1. The units comprise electric heating elements which extend longitudinally of the furnace and may be controlled to obtain the required temperature throughout the length of the furnace. The base is formed in three parts, two outer members A and a central portion B. Each outer member A may be provided with a longitudinal duct a to house an electrical heating unit a1 and the central portion may be separated from the outer members and provided with a heating unit in a duct b.

The central portion B is built up on refractory material b2 and carried on a longitudinal beam B1 adapted to be given a rectangular movement, i. e. a vertical lift followed by a longitudinal motion from the feed towards the delivery end of the furnace, a downward movement and a return longitudinal movement with its surface slightly below the level of the two outer members A1 followed by a vertical lift to bring the central portion B again to its initial position. The duration of the period v of movement to that ofthe stationary period may be of the order of 1:4 or any other suitable duration.

The beam B s provided with lins b3 projecting into sand seals a3 arranged on projections a4 extending longitudinally of the kiln, the tins and sand seal preventing the loss of heat from the furnace and the entry C11-from'- an electric vmotor c5( "may becdrven Vinfterlnlittently from'1a time or othenswitch 2,828,004 Patented Mar. 25, 1958 of air through the Iclearances between the central portion B and the other members A.

The `central portion B and beam B1 are supported at each end -of the klnon lifting cams C mounted on shafts cf. Thershaftc-"atoneendalso carries a propelling cam C1 'engaged 'byratfollower plate c1 affixed to the beam. A secondcam-.C2sirnilar to the `cam C1 and a follower plate c? normally-:outrofcontact with the latter cam may bepro'vided to fr-assistiin` controlling the return of the beam, asnchifollower. plate.: c2 `being retainedin contact withfthepropel-ling cam C1 on lthe return stroke during lthefrotation:ofthelifting'fcams C since the beam travels baclcin:theroppositefdirection to that of the rotatio'niof thekliftinggcaI-ns;V In Fig. 6, xi designates the `center of the shaft ci and x1-des`ignates the center of the cam Cwhich is eccentric to the shaft Slits b41mayfberfp1jovidedin the upper'llangeoflthe beam 'to'allow for.`- expansion and contractionthereof. Onev or more exhaust-vents" a5 may also be provided to allow-forescape-of any gases generated during the heatingfofthef-articles;'f

Thefshaftswc 'andcams C, C1., C2 are driven through worm` gearing ca'and reduction gearing c4 `on a shaft The electric motor 'c5 to traverse the beam periodically.

The beam B1 at its ends is stiffened by ns b1 welded or otherwise secured to the web and also by I section members B2 bolted to the upper flange. One I section member and the beam carrying pairs of horizontal guide rollers b5 engaging vertical rollers b6 adjustably mounted in end `frames or steadies b" whereby any warping or cut of truth of the beam may"be compensated. The alignment of the beam B1 and of the I-section members B11 bolted thereto is adjusted by varying the relative positions of the rollers b5 and bs. The rollers b5 are mounted in bearings b11 carried on screw-threaded rods b12 passing through the web of the beam B1 and the web of one member B2, and are adjusted by lock nut b9. The rollers b5 engage the vertical rollers b1i carried in bearings b1a mounted on screw-threaded rods b11 passing through the end frame b", the rollers b6 being adjusted by lock nuts b19.

The tiles or other articles to be passed through a heating chamber D in the kilns are arranged to span the central portion B of the base to rest on the two outer portions A2 thereof. The articles are lifted vertically by the central portion B through the cams C and traversed a predetermined distance along the kiln by the cams C1 and are then lowered onto the two outer portions A1 whilst the central portion B returns with its upper surface below the level of the portion A2. The duration of the movement of the central portion B relatively to the duration of its stationary period may be of the order of one to four or other suitable relative periods, the moving period being reduced to a minimum to allow the article to be unsupported over its full area for as short a period of time as possible.

The heated space in the tunnel in height and width is reduced to a minimum subject to the size and shape of the article and for a tile is such that the tile may be therein and be lifted clear of the outer members for longitudinal movement.

The contours of the cams C are such that the lifting cam C comes into operation in advance of the propelling cam C1 and after the lifting cam has lowered the beam the propellor cam C1 returns the beam B1 and the lifting earns C then raise it again into its initial position with the central portion B in line with the outer members of the base A2.

A number of furnaces may be arranged in banks each` v firing the same orndi'ering tiles or other articles 'and' each controlled by independent thermostatic devices. A further kiln may be arranged alongside as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 by introducing a second beam and vcam on the rightof the sand seal projection a4.

I claim: Y x I 1. Conveying means comprising a beam for advancing articles supported thereon, a rotatable 'lifting 'cam on which the beam rests and acting on the beam during part beam in the reverse direction and opposite to the direction ofrotation of the lifting earn during another part of the rotation of the propelling cam.

2. Conveying means comprising a beam for advancing articles supported thereon, a rotatable lifting cam on which the beam rests frictionally for lifting and advancing the beam, a rotatable propelling cam means connected to the lifting cam to rotate synchronously therewith, cam followers connected to the beam and cooperative with said cam means for reciprocating the beam, and

means for rotating the lifting cam and the propelling camV means inthe same direction, the lifting cam being timed to lift and advance the beam in advance of the operation of the propelling cam means to control the speed of advance of the beam in onev direction and to lower the beam in advance of the operation of the propelling cam means to reciprocate the beam in the opposite direction.

3. Conveying means comprising a reciprocatory beam for advancing articles Vthereonfsuperposed members of l-section secured to the beam,v horizontal guide rollers journaled respectively on the sides of one of said mem- 4bersY and on the sides of the beam and extending longitudinally of the beam, vertical guide rollers journaled at opposite sides of the beam and engageable by said horizontal rollers, and Ymeans lfor adjusting the vertical rollersin a direction transversely of the beam.

References Cited'in the tile of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 763,892 Hirschmann Iune`28, 1904 1,272,918 Cram July 16, 1918 1,400,367 McCannl '.i.. Dec. 13, 1921 2,026,172 Holm Dec. 31, 1935 2,045,920 Parmelee June 30, 1936 2,122,200 Fourment June 28, 1938 2,279,511 Gottignies et al. Apr. 14, 1942 2,320,172 Brooke et al.Y May 25, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 395,617

Great Britain July 20. 1933 

